Glock 30 Review: 45 ACP Buyer’s Guide

The Glock 30 is chambered in .45 Auto and sponsored by the New York City Police Department (NYPD) for its incredible versatility.

As crazy as it is to think about, a 9mm pistol isn’t always enough against certain criminals. For starters, if someone is wearing body armor, a 9mm is most likely not going to penetrate enough to stop the individual. Secondly, drug addicts on drugs such as Meth, Heroin, and Acid are able to walk through smaller caliber rounds, unless you get a headshot or major organ.

You might be thinking this isn’t possible, but I’ve seen it in my time in Iraq.

Suicide bombers would get high on LSD or Acid to calm their nerves and would end up getting shot center mass 3-6 times before dropping. I’ve never heard of anyone walking through a .45 Auto round because the force is too strong to keep you on your feet if you hit center mass.

Our brothers and sisters in the NYPD experience this every day on the job, so they trust this gun more than most 9mm pistols.

Glock 30 | A Buyer's Guide in 2021

Glock 30 Specs

Glock 30
Weight1.49 lbs
Weight w/unloaded mag1.68 lbs
Weight w/loaded mag2.10
Height4.8"
Barrel Length3.78"
Overall Length6.97"
Slide Length6.77"
Caliber.45 Auto
Magazine Capacity9/10/13
Trigger Pull Weight28 N/ 6.29 lbs of force
Overall Width1.38"
Slide Width1.12"
Trigger Distance2.85"
Line of Sight (Polymer)5.91"
Line of Sight (steel)5.87"
Line of Sight (GNC)5.83"
SafetySafe Action
MSRP $550.00

 

Pros

Cons

Versatile with the Modular backstrap SystemTrigger pull weight can get heavy after a few shots
Great stopping power with the .45 Auto roundNo manual safety (preference)
Affordable, especially if bought used
Customizable for any shooting preference or style
Very light for a .45 chambered pistol
Great recoil reduction with the added dual recoil spring

Glock 30 Features

  • subcompact model makes it very easy to control and conceal
  • Rough Textured Grip (RTF)– The RTF added to the Gen 4 enhances the grip traction for inclement weather, such as rain, snow, humidity, cold, etc.
  • Dual Recoil Spring Assembly- The dual recoil spring is designed to reduce the felt recoil from the operation and increase the lifespan of the gun
  • Enlarged Reversible Mag Catch- Since this is a subcompact model, it can be difficult for owners with larger hands to grip the catch, so Glock made the magazine catch bigger to easily grip and change mags when time is necessary. You can also switch sides for lefties.
  • Interchangeable Backstrap System- The small backstrap is the stock size shipped to you. However, if you feel the grip is too small you can add the medium backstrap to add 8/100 of an inch from the back of the grip to the trigger. For those who have hands like an NFL QB, you can add the large, which gives you 16/100 of an inch.

Why Should I Buy The Glock 30?

The Glock 30 is one of the best subcompact semi-auto pistols in the world for law enforcement due to its stopping power and lightweight frame. I believe this is a great pistol for home defense as well because nobody is walking through a .45 Auto round, and all you need is one hit to destroy your target. A .45 ACP is one of the biggest rounds you can shoot with a pistol and provides the most penetration (except for a .50 cal).

Where Can I Buy The Glock 30?

The Glock 30 is probably one of the toughest guns to find because it’s designed for law enforcement and packs a punch that many shooters can’t control. However, If you’re looking to buy one online we suggest guns.com.

Glock 30S

$639.99
at GUNS.COM
Prices accurate at time of writing

Glock 30 .45 ACP Ammo

The type of 45 ACP ammo you put into your gun is one of the most overlooked aspects of having the most reliable pistol you can have. I have 2 types of ammo I suggest for the Glock 30, one from Hornady and the other from Federal. Depending on your state or police department, hollow points may not be allowed because it’s viewed as extreme and unnecessary punishment.

Having the right ammo could mean the difference in your gun jamming after a few shots due to bad primers or the rounds just failing to feed because they were made crappy. These 2 companies always provide great ammo that I’ve never had a problem with and can count on them to save your life if need be.

RELATED – 45 Long Colt vs 45 ACP: Side-By-Side Comparison

Federal Personal Defense Punch 45 Auto

The Federal Personal Defense Punch ammo features a skived jacket and soft lead core to produce ideal expansion and penetration for the most common situations, while its nickel-plated brass and sealed primer deliver reliable feeding and ignition.

The primers are constructed under the highest requirements in the industry, which guarantees flawless feeding for every round.

FEDERAL AMMO 45 Auto 230Gr Punch JHP

$28.99
at Kentucky Gun Co
Prices accurate at time of writing

 

HORNADY Critical Defense 45 Auto

Since their inception, conventional hollow point pistol bullets have performed well, but have never delivered 100% reliability, especially in self-defense situations. The patented Flex Tip technology used in Hornady Critical Defense ammunition eliminates the clogging and inconsistency that often plagues hollow point bullets.

All Hornady Critical Defense ammunition is loaded in nickel-plated cases for increased visibility in low-light situations. Premium low flash propellants deliver proven performance, even in very short-barreled handguns, and won’t disrupt your vision. Reliable expansion and dependable terminal performance can be counted on for concealed carry and personal protection.

HORNADY Critical Defense 45 Auto 185gr FTX

$30.99
at Gritr Sports
Prices accurate at time of writing

 

Accessories For Glock 30

Glock, in general, is the most universally accepted handgun in the world because of its simplistic design and reliability. As a result of its success, Glock has created more accessories for their pistols than you could ever ask for.

The Glock 30 is meant as an alternative to the Glock 22 service pistol for officers looking for a smaller frame and more stopping power. With this in mind, each department will have its own standards and requirements for what’s allowed on their service pistols.

My favorite attachments to add to the Glock 30 are lights, and lasers.

CRIMSON TRACE FITS GLOCK G-SERIES- 29 & 30 – LASERGRIP, REAR ACTIVATION

Crimson Trace’s Lasergrips are my favorite type of laser to use on my Glock because there is no adjustment to the grip of your gun to activate the red laser. The Lasergrip is attached to the grip with minimal intrusion and keeps the gun balanced in your hand by placing it on the grip instead of the bottom of the barrel.

Crimson Trace boasts more awards from the National Rifle Association (NRA) and the Firearms Industry Academy of Excellence than any other company in the world.

Crimson Trace LG-629 Lasergrips

$210.01
at Amazon
Prices accurate at time of writing

SUREFIRE XC1 ULTRA COMPACT 300 LUMEN LED HANDGUN LIGHT

Surefire has been my go-to for weapon lights since my time in the military because of their durability, reliability, and the blinding white light. This weapon light fits perfectly on the under-barrel of the Glock 30 and doesn’t add too much weight. The XC1 is specifically designed to be attached to concealed carry pistols without compromising the concealability of the gun.

Producing 300 lumens for 45 minutes of consecutive use gives you the advantage of going into dark rooms or short distances to gain better situational awareness. Looking at this light directly will obscure the vision of your target, and force them to look away, giving you the advantage.

SureFire XC1 Weaponlight

$264.66
at Amazon
Prices accurate at time of writing

 

Glock 30 vs Glock 22

The Glock 30 is an awesome alternative to the Glock 22 because it’s smaller and the .45 Auto offers better ballistics than the .40 S&W. For example, the .45 ACP has better penetration and is an overall bigger round. The recoil in the Glock 30 is going to be stronger because the barrel is shorter and the round is bigger, but the recoil is different than the 22.

For example, the Glock 30 recoils back into your hand, providing easier follow-up shots versus the 22 which recoils more vertical (probably because of the longer barrel). The Glock 22 shoots a much faster bullet, giving it more accuracy at longer ranges than the Glock 30, and packs enough punch to get the job done.

With thousands of police officers trusting the 22 with their lives, I have no doubt it’s worth buying. For more damage and more force upon impact, I would go with the Glock 30 and spend an extra $50-$100.

Glock 22

$500.99
at GUNS.COM
Prices accurate at time of writing

 

Specs

Glock 30Glock 22
Weight1.49 lbs1.42 lbs
Weight w/unloaded mag1.68 lbs1.6 lbs
Weight w/loaded mag2.10 lbs2.2 lbs
Height4.8"5.47"
Barrel Length3.78"4.49"
Overall Length6.97"7.9"
Slide Length6.77"7.3"
Caliber.45 Auto.40 S&W
Magazine Capacity9/10/1315/16/22
Trigger Pull Weight28 N/ 6.29 lbs of force28 N/ 6.29 lbs of force
Overall Width1.38"1.26"
Slide Width1.12"1.0"
Trigger Distance2.85"2.76"
Line of Sight (Polymer)5.91"6.50"
Line of Sight (steel)5.87"6.46"
Line of Sight (GNC)5.83"6.42"
SafetySafe ActionSafe Action
MSRP $550.00$500

 

Related Article – What is the Best Glock .45 ACP? Glock 21 vs. Glock 41

Conclusion

The Glock 30 is perfect for concealed carry applications and has garnered much love from the law enforcement community due to its stopping power and recoil control. The Glock 30 is smaller than the Glock 22 and fires a .45 ACP, instead of the .40 S&W bullet.

The felt recoil is roughly the same, but the Glock 30 recoils back into your hand, while Glock 22 has a lot of muzzle lift that makes it difficult to provide accurate and timely follow-up shots.

The Glock 30 is not only a great service pistol for police officers, but it’s perfect for home defense because of the added stopping power of a .45 ACP.


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